Dear Editor,
The PPP has announced that Bheri Ramsaran and Anil Nandlall are on their list of MPs for the 11th Parliament.
Dr Bheri Ramsaran resigned as Minister of Health after condemnation of his ‘slap and strip’ comments to Sherlina Nageer. Ms Nageer was asking him about the deaths of women in the public health system.
Mr Nandlall’s contempt for a female reporter led to calls for his resignation, calls led by the late Courtney Crum-Ewing who was killed while calling on people to vote.
There is something ugly about Guyana’s democracy and history in that the PPP and its supporters could think that it is okay for men who have contempt for women to sit in parliament. What is the use of condemnation if there is going to be collaboration with those whose attitudes and behaviour make them unfit for public office? The PPP list of MPs includes people who were part of the condemnation. That condemnation is useless since these people are now going to be asking the nation to accept those with contempt for women as part of the leadership.
There have been reports of the PPP supporters very vocally agreeing with Dr Ramsaran’s ‘slap and strip’ approach to the woman who demanded accountability from him. The man who eventually asked Dr Ramsaran to resign has not stated as yet why he is not willing to serve on the PPP list of MPs.
There is nothing to celebrate about Guyana’s 50 years of independence if the 11th Parliament will have members who have contempt for women. Members of Parliament are paid by taxpayers.
Yours faithfully,
Vidyaratha Kissoon
